Electric massaging machine



7 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MW M Nov. 25,1930. F.- w. KNOTT ELECTRIC MASSAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1929 NOV. 25 W. KNOTT ELECTRIC MASSAGING MACHINE I Filed June 12, '1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 25, 1930. F. w. KNOTT 1,783,171

v ELECTRIC MASSAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1929 5 SheetsSheet 5 U INVENTOR.

Nov. 25, 1930. F. w. KNOTT ELECTRIC MASSAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3o 4 ll I N VEN TOR.

Nov. 25, 1930. I F. w. KNOTT 1,783,171

ELECTRIC MAS SAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 25, 1930 r UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE FRANK w. KNOTT, or erson, .ivrrcni AN, ASSIGNOR TO KNQTT & GanLnUs COMPANY,

' or DETROIT, monreana CORPORATION or MICHIGAN nmicrarc MASSAGING MACHVINE lpplication filed iune 12,-1929. Serial No. 370,437;

The object of my invention is to produce a health massaging machine of the oscillating type for massaging the body by useof a flexible applicatorbelt,

Another object is to construct a small, 1nexpensive massaging machine, especially adapted for home use that will occupy a very small space. V

A further object is towproduce a massaging machine utilizing'but few operating parts forsimplifying the construction and producing as neara noiseless machine as possible.

A stillfurther objectis to produce anoscillating massaging machine, having 'ad]ustable applicator arms operated directly'from a rotating cam shaft for producing as nearly as possible a uniform motion; and applying the same directly to opposite ends of aflexi'ble applicator belt.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth. i 7

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals.

Fig. 1 is an end View of my device, showing the mounted operating motor and means for connecting pivoted applicator arms.

Fig. 2 is afront view of my device, showing the relative position of the operating motor mounted on the frame and the attached applicator arms pivoted thereto at each end of the motor.

Fig. 3 is a back View of, the device, showing the position of the attached camcups on the applicator arms and spring means for assisting the cam movemen Fig. 4 is a top view of my device, showing the general arrangement of the connecting parts and the relative position of the supporting base. i V V Fig. 5 is an end View of the motor section, with the applicator arm and cam cup removed, showing the operating cam as attached to the end of the motor shaft.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showingthe inside construction of the applicator arm and connected cam. cup and the relative position 7" of "the operating motor mounted therein. a

shown in Fig. 8, showing the general arrange ment of the stand base and connected parts.

I will .now describe morefully the detailed construction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

In general, my device comprises a standard slow speed motor, mounted in a suitable supporting frame, the motor being designed with a bearing shaft'projected outside of thebearings at both ends andhaving an eccentric cam mounted on each end of the motor shaft, the same being set diametrically opposite each other. At each endof the motor shaft is mounted an applicator arm, formed with a cam cup on one side, and pivotally attached to the supporting frame in a position to enclose one of the motor shaft cams in each cup for oscillating therewith, the applicator arms being provided with means for attaching a flexible applicator belt for transferring the alternate oscillations of the arms directly into the belt.

The support column -1 is preferably made of a hollow tubular standard, and may be made from the ordinary metal tubing, of sufficient diameter to provide a stifi rigid support column. Thecolumn 1 is mounted in a rigid base -2, preferably made of cast metal and preferably formed of a ribbed construction, and extending sufficiently to provide a rigid stable support for the frame and attached massaging machine when a side pressure is applied thereon, the column 1 being mounted inthe base 2 near one extended a few inches back from the base in a horizontal position and are provided with rubber end caps -5 on the outer ends thereof, the rubber end caps being designed to engage a vertical wall for more permanently holding the base in a secure position. Through the column -1, near the upper end thereof. is mounted an eyelet bolt which is securely attached to the column. Also a floor eyelet 7- provided for screwing into the floor near the wall, eyelets and 7- being connected by an adjustable brace rod 8, provided with a turn buckle 9, for securely and permanently attaching the massaging machine supports to the floor in a manner forresisting the moving of the machine when pressure is applied thereto. Mounted at the top end of the support column 1 is a support frame 10, preferably made of cast metal, and provided with an attaching fian e -ll formed on the bottom side thereof, the flange l1 being made hollow and is preferably attached to the column by pressed fit for the column end, although it may be attached thereto by any other means which would provide a suitable strong and rigid connection. The support frame 10 is formed with an upper cylindrical curved surface 12, positioned with the axis of the curve at right angles to the column and intersecting with the column center line. \Vithin the curved section of the support frame -10- is mounted a standard slow speed motor 13, the motor 13- being constructed with a cylindrical drum body, which fits the upper curved surface l2- of the support and is securely attached thereto by means of the bolts 14. passing through the support casting and motor drum casing, rigidly holding the motor in place, the motor l3- being of a slow speed type, capable ofoperating preferably about 800 revolutions per minute, and is provided with an armature shaft 15 which projects outside of the motor bearings -16 at both ends thereof. On both ends of the shaft 15 are attached eccentric disc cams 17 fixedly con nected thereto by either a pressed fiton the shaft or set screws l8, positioned diametrically opposite each other and rotated directly with the motor. The support frame 10-- is formed with projecting arms -48- at each end of the curved section -12, which are provided 1 with hearing bosses -l9 at the outer end thereof. di ithin the bosses 19- are mounted pivot bearing pins 20 fixedly attached thereto and positioned in parallel alignment with the motor shaft -15, the pins -20 being provided with heads on the outer ends thereof. Pivotally mounted on the bearing pins 2() are applicator arms -21 formed with hub sections 22 near one end thereof, providing suitable bearings for the arms. Formed on the back side of each of the applicator arms is a cam cup -23, preferably made or cast as a part of the arm member and formed with an open cylindrical recess 24 within the inner face thereof, the cam cup being positioned to one side of the center line of the arm, and carries a cam roller rotatably mounted therein by the pivot pin 2(ifixedly mounted through the boss 27-of the outer cam cup wall. The roller is positioned within the cam cup approximately along the circumference of acircle passing through the center of the motor shaft, and concentric with the center of the pivot 20 for engaging the surface of the eccentric cams -l7- and imparting an alternate oscillating movement to the attached applicator arms 2l as the motor 13 is rotated. On the opposite sides of the hubs 22- are formed projecting tension arms 28 extending below the hubs 20- and carry mounted thereon tension coil springs -29, the coil springs 29 having their opposite ends connected to support studs 30 fixedly mounted in the 'hubs 31- formed on opposite sides of-the support frame 10-, the hubs 81 being positioned on the support frame on the side opposite the pivot bosses 19 and in a manner for stressing the connected springs -Q9'for holding the cam rollers 25 tightly against the motor cam 17 at all times, the motor cams forcing the arms 21 backward during the pull stroke and the stressed coil springs returning the arms "to their initial positions on the release strokes. The tension of the springs -29- should be sufiicient to effect a constant contact between the rollers 25-and the cams 17- for the full operating motor speeds,

the rollers -25 being designed to lessen the friction of the sliding cams in effecting the power movement of the stroke. If desired, the rollers 25 may be replaced by the shoe 32 as shown in Fig. 7 and which is formed with a concave surface for fitting and engaging the outer surface of the cam 1' 7, which slides therein. The shoe 32 is pivoted within the cam cup in the same manner as the roller -Q5 and is free to rock on the supporting pivot as the cam operates instead of rolling. Along the outer sides of the applicator arms -21 are mounted applicator attaching buttons 33 fixedly attached to the arm face, the applicator buttons 33- being formed with a head --b for receiving and retaining the end hook 3lof the flexible applicator belt 35, the hook 34- being of a size for easily detaching the same from the applicator buttons and may be attached to various positions thereon: the applicator buttons -33- being placed at various positions along the arm provide means for securing the different length strokes of the loo applicator belt during the alternate oscillating movements of the arms. The applicator belt may be made of any desired material suitable for'that type of belt and also may be provided with any type of hook end suitable for attaching and detaching to the button heads. On the front side of the support frame -10 is mounted a switch box -36- and may be of any standard type for making and breaking electric connections within electric circuit wires. The switch 36 is connected into an electric circuit through the circuit wires 37- and 38, whilethe opposite side of the switch -36 is connected to the motor poles by the ter minal wires 39 and 40. For neatness in appearance, it is desired to extend the circuit wires 87-- and -38 through the grooved recess 41 formed along the top curved surface of the supporting frame and down through the hollow column 1,

leading therefrom at the lower end of the column.

A modified form ofmy device is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, illustrating the same general construction and arrangement of the motor and connecting applicator arms, although mounted within a cabinet frame for table or stand use, instead of the stand type base and supporting casting heretofore shown, the motor -13 being mounted within the upper recess of a cabinetframe --l2- and securely attached by, the bolts 4=3 in the manner heretofore described, the cabinet base -42 being formed with a fiat bottom and preferably provided with a mat base covering -44- to prevent the cabinet from marring surfaces upon which it maybe rested. The cabinet may be securely attached to any supporting surface by means of bolts through the flanged holes -45. The applicator arms -21 are pivotally mounted in bosses 46 formed on the side cabinet walls and operate in exactly the same manner as heretofore described, the spring support studs --30 being also fixedly mounted within the sides of the cabinet and projecting therefrom in the same manner as heretofore described, and in all respects the assembled device operates exactly as heretofore set forth.

Having fully described my electric massaging machine, what I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A massaging machine adapted for massaging the body through an attached flexible applicator belt, comprising a rigid supporting frame, having a slow speed electric motor mounted therein, means attached to said motor for connecting the same within an electric power circuit, said motor being provided with an armature shaft extending beyond the motor bearings at both ends thereof, eccentric cams fixedly attached to the outer ends of the armature shaft positioned diametrically" oppositeieach other, applicator arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the supporting frame positioned to .one side of and ad acent to tllGSLlCl eccentric cams, a bearlng roller mounted on the sides of the applicator arms positioned to engage the cam surface ofthe eccentric cams, spring means attached to, the

applicator arms for forming continuous contact of the rollers with the cam surfaces dur-,

ing the rotation ofthe motor armature, and a series of applicator attaching buttons mounted on the sides of the applicator arms for attaching the'endsof afiexible applicator belt thereto in various positions along the arms. 1

2. A massaging machine adapted formassaging the bodythrough an attached-flexible applicator belt, comprising a rigid support-. ing frame provided wlth means-for permanently attaching the samev on a supporting surface, a slow speed electric motor fixedly mounted within thev top of the supporting frame and provided 'withmeans for connecting said motor within an electric power circuit, said slow speed'motor being provided with an armature shaft extending beyond both motor bearings, eccentric cams fixedly attached to opposite ends of the'armature shaft and positioned thereon diametrically opposite each other, applicator arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the supporting frame and each positioned adjacent to one of, the eccentric cams and in alignment therewith, said applicator arms being formed with side members projected below the adj acent cam and provided with a contact roller pivotally mounted on the outer end thereof positioned to engage the said cams on the sides opposite the arms, spring means attached to the said applicator arms for holding the contact rollers in continuous contact with the eccentric cam surfaces during continuous rotation of the motor for imparting an alternate oscillating movement to the applicator arms. a series of applicator buttons mounted on the face of the applicator arms for attaching the ends of a flexible applicator belt thereto for transmitting the alternate lrgscillating movement into the applicator elt.

8. A massaging machine adapted for massaging the body through an attached flexible applicator belt, comprising a rigid supporting frame having a slow speed motor mounted therein and securely attached thereto, means mounted on said slow speed motor for connecting the same within an electric power circuit, said motor being provided with an armature shaft extending beyond the motor bearings at each end, eccentric cams fixedly mounted on the outer opposite ends of said armature shaft positioned diametrically opposite each other, applicator arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the supporting frame positioned adjacent to the respective cams and in approximate alignment there with, said applicator arms being provided with a cam cup formed on one side thereof, said cam cup being of a size and positioned to enclose the respective eccentric cams and allow the cams to rotate freely therein, a contact roller mounted Within each of the cam cups positioned to engage the cam surface on the side opposite the applicator arms forming; a contact therewith, spring means mounte on the said applicator arms in a manner for holding the contact rollers in continuous contact with the eccentric cams during the con tinuous rotation of the motor armature for producing a continuous alternate oscillating movement of the applicator arms, and a series of applicator attaching buttons mounted on the applicator arms for attaching the ends of a flexible applicator belt thereto at various positions along the arms fortransmitting the alternate oscillating movement of the arms directly into the attached applicator belt.

In Witness whereof, I sign these specifications.

FRANK V. KNOTT. 

